Yuan Yang Shaba Worms

Yuan Yang Shaba Worms

　　Yuan Yang Shaba Worms are a specialty of YuanYang County in Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Shaba Worms are the larvae of dragonflies. The people of YuanYang enjoy catching them to take home, then frying them or stir-frying them with eggs. They are also considered one of the most distinctive ethnic dishes when hosting honored guests.

　　The people of YuanYang have a tradition of eating insects. Nature has blessed the area with a rich array of food sources, and there are dozens of edible insect species in YuanYang County, with Shaba Worms being just one of them.

　　Shaba Worms are actually the nymphs of the club-tailed dragonfly, which belong to the order Odonata and the family Gomphidae. These creatures live under stones in water and are flat, elongated, segmented, and bilaterally symmetrical with legs and pincers on their heads—quite a startling sight at first glance. Before eating, they are first scalded in hot water to kill them, their internal waste is removed and they are cleaned, then fried or stir-fried until they become crispy and fragrant. They can also be grilled. Shaba Worms are high in protein and extremely nutritious, with a delicious taste that lingers on the palate. They are a pollution-free, eco-friendly delicacy and are regarded as one of the most distinctive ethnic dishes. Delicious and perfect as an accompaniment to alcohol, too!